Sanitary communion set



March 10, 1925- A. c.- o. M CLELLAN SANITARY COMMUNION SET Filed. June 27, 1922 a Sheets-$heet 1 Hw bi SANITKRY COMMUNION SET Filed Jun. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m w W 3 March 10, 1925- A. C. D. M CLELLAN SANITARY COMMUNION SET Filed June 2'7, 1922 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

ASA c. n. MCCLELLAN, OFiVlEMPHIfiTENNESSEE.

SANITARY coiviivruivroiv SET.

Application filed 11111627, 1922. Serial No. 571,217.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, Asa G. D. MGCLELLAN, a citizen of the UnitediStates, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Communion Sets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to sanitary communion sets particularly where. the wine is served to the communicants in individual containers, each containing but a small quantity of the liquid. I

It is customary in the use of individual communion sets to provide many individual containers thus avoiding thehighly'unsanitary condition where a single container or cup is offered to many communicants in succession, for under such circumstances, if even one of those using the common cup be aiflicted with some disease, it is liable to be transmitted to those persons who subsequently drink from the same cup.

The modern sanitary communion set is provided with a tray with numerous cavities or holders for small cups or containers, for a minute but sufficient quantity'of the wine employed.

To deposit the wine in the, numerous cups employed," represents a task of considerablev magnitude, which task it is the object of the present invention to minimize, and at the same time distribute the liquid to the several cups in substantially equal quantities. To accomplish this desirable result, the invention comprises a reservoir of a suitable size to furnish all the cups used with the chosen quantity of liquid- I Since the trays, for convenience of handling, are each capable ofcontaining a considerable plurality of cups, it becomes nev cessary to provide, even in comparatively small assemblies partaking of the communion service, a set including several trays. The cup filling device of the present invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding that tlie invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of'the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims. I

In the drawings Figure 1 1s a side elevation of the cup filling device of the invention Fig. 2 is a section takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical and substantially central section through the structure.

Fig. 4 is a cross vertical section therethrough.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the cup filling device. i

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the valve.

Fig.7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of valve."

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a lengthwise supported cylindricalbody portion or container including a hollow cylindrical upper part 1 pro viding a liquid chamber of a capacity to hold suflicient wine to fill simultaneously a se ries of individual cups arranged in rows extending lengthwise with respect to the container. Each of said individual cups is indicated at 2.

The upper part 10f the container has depending therefrom, a lengthwise disposed substantially semi-oval shaped extension 3, of a length equal to the length of said upper part, and the said extension 3 is formed with a lengthwise extending cylindrical chamber 3.

The body portion or" container further includes a pair of flanged end caps 2', 2". The cap 2 is common to and mounted upon one end ofthe upper. part 1 and the extension 3. The cap 2 is formed with an opening 4: having the wall thereof registering with the wall of the chamber 3. Surrounding the opening at is an outwardly extending peripherally threaded annular flange 5 with which engages an apertured Q cap member 30 for clofsingone end of the chamber 3. I The member 30 is set up with an interiorly threaded annular rim for en gagement with the threadsof the flange 5'. The end cap 2 is mounted on the other end of thenpper part 1 and extension 3.

Arranged within the chamber 3 is a hollow cylindrical valve 4 abutting at one end against the end cap 2 and at its other end against the cap member 30 when the latter is connected with the flange 5'. Secured within one end of the valve 4 is a closure plug 29 and in its other end is a closure plug 29, provided with a stem 29" which projects outwardly through an opening 80 in the cap member 31 and carries a manipulating knob 5.

Depending from and formed integral with the extension 3 is a series of equidistant nozzles for simultaneously discl-iarging the contents of the valve e into a row of cups 2.

The container or body portion projects through and is supported by a pair of.

spaced opposed standards.

The standards are indicated by the reference character 6, and secured to the inner face of each standard 6 is a horizontally disposed channel-shaped member 7 which constitutes a track in which is supported and {.iuided one end of a platform 8, having depending from its lower face, near each end thereof. a rack bar 10, and said bars are engaged by pinions 11, carried by a. shaft 12, journalled in the lower portions of the standards 6. The shaft 12 has one end thereof extended through one of the standards 6 and provided with a crank handle 13.

The platform 8 is shaped toreceive and hold a tray 1% having a series of lengthwise extending rows of cavities 1,5 each of a size to receive the lower portion of a cup 2. and the cavities are so spaced as to permit the cups to be readily grasped by the fingers of the users and removed from the tray without interference, the cups expanding' toward their open ends to facilitate the grasping and handling of the cups.

The trays 14: are not fastened in place, but may be readily removed with the cups carried by them at the will of the operator.

Extending crosswise of the platform 8 is a series of cavities or notches 16 to be engaged by a latch pin 17, to detachably hold the platform when shifted to position a row of cups below the nozzles.

Communicating with each end of the valve chamber 3, in proximity to a plug 29 or 29 is a vent tube 18 which extends upwardly through the chamber 1 and opens into the atmosphere, The chamber 1 has a filling opening 19 normally closed by a cover member 20 provided with a manipulating handle 21, The tubes 18 are fixed to the upper part of the body portion or 0011- tainer.

The container or body portion between the chambers 1 and 3' is formed with a lengthwise extended slot 19', centrally thereof, and which opens into the bottom of the chamber 1 and into the top of the chamber 3. Secured within the chamber 1 and extending across the slot 19 is a filtering member 31. The valve 4, best shown in Figure 6, is provided with a lengthwise extending slot 26 of materially greater length than the length of the slot 19 and said slot 26 when registering with the slot 19 provides for a supply of liquid or wine from the chamber 1 into the chamber formed by the valve 4:, and said slot 26 further provides for discharging the contents of the valve into the nozzles 5, so that a row of cups can be supplied with liquid or wine.

In Figure 7 of the drawings a modified form of hollow cylindrical valve is disclosed, and said valve is indicated at a and provided with a lengthwise partition thereby providing a pair of compartments 24, 24. The valve 4", in connection with a com partment 24 is provided with a pair of openings 23 and an elongated slot 26, and in connection with the compartment 2i provided with a pair of openings 23 and an elongated slot 26 The valve 4 is provided with a pair of spaced openings 19 and each of which is adapted to communicate with a vent tube 18, so that atmospheric pressure can be sup plied to the interior of the valve 1. The slot 26 is of a length greater than the row of nozzles 5 and of materially greater length than the slot 19', and the latter is disposed centrally with respect to the slot 26.

The openings 28, 23*"- in the valve 4" perform the same function as the openings 19" of the valve 4, and the slots 26", 26" in the valve 4" perform the same function as the slot 26 in the valve 4:. Each of the slots 26, 26 in the valve 41:" is of greater length than the row of nozzles 5- and of materially greater length than the slot 19 and the latter when'a slot 26 or 26 registers therewith is disposed centrally with respect: thereto.

The manipulating knob or handle 5 is provided with a stop member 27, coacting with a pair of spaced stops 28, carried by the cap and said stops 28 coact with the member 27 to properly position the valve 1 for discharging the contents thereof into the nozzles 5 or to receive a supply of liquid or wine from the chamber 1. \Vit-h respect to the modified form of valve 4:", the stops 28 coact with the member 27 to position the compartments 21, 24 alternately for filling and discharging with respect to the slot 19 and nozzles 53".

Let it be assumed that the container is suitably filled with the liquid to be deposited lllll circumstances, the liquid will gravitate through the slots 19 and 26 into the valve 4 or ii the valve 4 has been shifted so that one of its slots registering with the slot 19' the liquid will be supplied to one of the compartments of the valve 4", but is prevented from flowing to and through the nozzles 5 by the wall of the valve 4 or 4".

If the valve 4 or 4 be now rocked about the longitudinal axis of the valve, the contents of the valve will gravitate to and through the tunnels 5 into. the cups 2, but with respect to the valve 4 or 4 will be placed into communication with the interior of the chamber 1 and be filling, as the other compartment is emptying to in turn fill the several cups 2.

In the meantime, the crank 13 is turned an appropriate distance to feed the tray 14 laterally to bring the second row of cups beneath the nozzles 5, when a repetition of the operation will cause, the second row of cups to be filled. The operations described are repeated until the tray 14 has been caused to move step bp step until all the rows of cups 2 have been filled. Then the tray 14 with the numerous filled or partially filled cups as the case may be is removed from the platform 8, and another tray 14 containing empty cups is placed in position and filled as before.

In the particular showing of the drawings, each tray is assumed to carry seventytwo cups in rows of twelve lengthwise of the machine and six crosswise of the machine. Similarly, the nozzles 5 are arranged in rows of twelve nozzles so that each time the valve 401 4', is moved to open position, twelve cups are filled to the extent determined by the capacity of each compartment of the valve. The crank 13 is manipulated as many times as there are rows of cups so that by six manipulations of the crank 13, the whole seventy-two cups are filled, thus greatly facilitating the preparation for the communion service.

Bushings 11 are interposed between pinions 11 and the standards 6.

Although the vent tubes 18 are shown communicating with the interior of the valve 4 or 4, in proximity to the plugs, yet the vent tubes can be arranged at any position desired.

What is claimed is l. A sanitary communion set comprising a pair of spaced opposed vertical standards, a container supported thereby and formed with a liquid storage chamber, a valve chamber .and a series of spaced nozzles depending from the valve chamber, said container provided with a slot at the bottom of the liquid chamber and top of the valve chamber for establishing communication between said chambers, a hollow rotary valve seated in the valve chamber and projecting from one end thereof and formed with a slot of greater length than the slot in the container for establishing communication between the interior of the valve and the slot of the container and further for establishing communication between the interior of the valve and said series of nozzles simultaneously, a cap member secured to said container for retaining thevalve in thevalve chamber, and a shiftable carrier arranged below said nozzles for removably receiving cups to be positioned in separate rows below said series of nozzles. p

2. A sanitary communion set comprising a pair of spaced opposed vertical standards, a container supported thereby and formed with a liquid chamber, a valve chamber and a series of spaced nozzles depending from the valve chamber, said container provided with a slot at the bottom of the liquid chamber and top of the valve chamber for establishing communication between said chambers, a hollow rotary valve seated: in the valve chamber and projecting from one end thereof and formed with a slot of greater length than the slot in the container and providing means for establishing communication between the interior of the valve and the slot of the container and further for establishing communication between the interior of the valve and said series of nozzles simultaneously, a cap member secured to said container for retaining the valve in the valve chamber, a shiftable carrier arranged below said nozzles for removably receiving cups to be positioned in separate rows below said series of nozzles, a plurality of vent tubes extending through said liquid storage chamber and communicating with the valve chamber, and said valve having means for establishing communication between the vent tubes and the interior thereof.

3. A sanitary communion set comprising a pair of spaced opposed vertical standards, a container supported thereby and formed with a liquid chamber, a valve chamber and a series of spaced nozzles depending from the valve chamber, said container provided with a slotat the bottom of the storage chamber and top of the valve chamber for establishing communication between said chambers, a hollow rotary valve seated in the valve chamber and projecting from one end thereof and formed with a slot of greater length than the slot in the container and providing means for establishing communication between the interior of the valve and the slot of the container and further for establishing communication between the interior of the valve and said series of nozzles simultaneously, a cap member secured to said container for retaining the valve in the valve chamber, and a shiftable carrier arranged below said nozzles for removably receiving cups to be positioned in separate rows below said series of nozzles, said cap within the valve chamber for conducting liquid from the liquid chamber to said nozzles, a platform arranged below said nozzles, means for shifting said platform to position a row of cups below said nozzles, means engaging with the platform for detachably securing it in its shifted position, and means for limiting the movement of the valve in either direction.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

ASA C. D. MQCLELLAN. 

